Friday, June 17, 2011

On June 14, Michael Hardesty, Chesapeake Semester Program Coordinator, led an oyster planting on Lankford Creek. With the partnership of DNR's Maryland Grows Oyster (MGO) program, growers on the Chester River raise oysters from spat in cages on their docks, which are then released on protected oyster bars. Read the full article here, and find out more about CES's involvement with MGO on our oyster page.

Chesapeake Semester students hit the road for Journey 1, "Discovering a Sense of Place," which included a ten-day 842 mile trip circumnavigating the Bay. Students departed from Chestertown and traveled down the Delmarva and up the Western Shore of Maryland stopping at historic landmarks like Jamestowne, Colonial Williamsburg, Shirley Plantation, Historic St. Mary's City, our state capital Annapolis, Havre de Grace, and Port Deposit. Nearing the end of the journey Chesapeake Semester students, Washington College faculty and SEA members enjoyed a sunset sail on the skipjack Martha Lewis out on the Susquehanna Flats.

At their Tuesday evening meeting, Briggs Cunningham of the Center for Environment & Society delivered an audit of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during the period July 2009 to June 2010.He said Easton's Town Creek Foundation supported it. It follows reports done for Chestertown and Betterton.He examined electricity use by county government and schools, county fuel use and estimated gas burned by commuting county employees.The annual electric bill was $1,009,922, and $847,600 was spent on fuel for cars, trucks and heating. He estimated 239 employees used 42,987 gallons of gas going back and forth to work. The report's suggestions focused on conservation: a no-idling vehicle policy; buying only Energy Star products; turning off computers, lights and HVAC when leaving for the day; and a summer four-day work week to cut energy use for summertime cooling."How would you feel about a four-day week in the summer?" Rasin asked Planning Director Gail Owings. "I think people would be pretty happy with that," she said. As long as weekenders knew the office would be closed on Friday or Monday so they could plan accordingly, it would seem to be fine, she said.Choptank Electric bills for the public works complex, community center and park; Worton's schools and wastewater plant sprayfield; Nicholson landfill; and "Galena transfer." Two Worton Park meters have not used electricity in years but Choptank has billed $948 and $228 each in minimum annual charges.Rasin noted Choptank's rates seem to be much higher. Cunningham said they might be negotiable, or solar power could be installed to serve the parks, community center and schools. Any excess would be sold back to the supplier.Craig O'Donnell, Kent County News. Used by permission.June 16 2011

The Center for Environment & Society (CES) promotes interdisciplinary learning, research, and exemplary stewardship of natural and cultural resources. It endeavors to shed light on the reciprocal relationship between humankind and the natural world. Our primary mission is to support the integration of ecological and social values.